See Also

Teenagers, Beer, and Beer Cans

by David J. Hanson, Ph.D.

An average of 975 beer cans and bottles are tossed per mile of
road annually in the US. The national ratio of beer cans to soda
cans on roadsides in almost exactly two beer cans (not counting
bottles) for every one soda can. Beer is the alcohol beverage overwhelmingly
consumed by teenagers. On the other hand, the liquor and wine bottle
discard rate is "virtually nil," according to the pioneering
research by Aluminum Anonymous, a non-profit group headed by Dennis
Brezina, its founder and Dirctor. 1

Evidence from several sources, including both anonymous surveys
and confidential interviews, suggests that perhaps half of the discarded
beer containers are tossed by teenagers. 2

Why so much beer container litter from teenagers? A health teacher
pointed out that "(Teens) will throw them on the side of the
road so they don't go home and have Mom and Dad see the cans."
3
Of course, many teens have probably chosen to drink in cars because
of strict laws and their enforcement designed to prevent them from
drinking in appropriate locations such as restaurants, taverns,
or even in the safe environment of home and family.

Unfortunately, drinking in cars is one of the very worst places
possible to consume alcohol Our laws have the unintended consequence
of forcing young people into consuming alcohol in an extremely dangerous
place and manner.

If we want to reduce such dangerous behavior, we should look for
guidance to those societies that have very high rates of consumption
but vey low rates of drinking problems. Such groups familiar to
most people include Italians, Greeks, Jews, Spaniards, and Portuguese.
These groups share three things in common:

The substance of alcohol is seen as essentially neutral. It
is seem neither as a magic elixir that will solve problems nor
is it viewed as a poison to be shunned and equated with illegal
street drugs. What matters is how it is used.

There are two equally acceptable choices regarding alcohol.
One is to abstain and the other is to use it sensibly and in moderation.
Those who drink do not try to force alcohol on those who chose
not to drink, and abstainers do not call drinkers "druggers"
or try to dissuade them from moderation. What is never acceptable
is the abuse of alcohol by anyone, any time, for any reason.

Children learn about alcohol in the home from their parents.
They learn how to drink as well as how not to drink. And this
learning occurs in the safe, supportive environment of the parent's
home. All thse successful groups would agree that it's better
to learn about drinking in the parent's house than in the fraternity
house.

If we want our young people to guzzle beer in the unsafe environment
of cars, then we will ignore these keys to successful use of alcohol
and continue our unsuccessful prohibitionist policies. Prohibition
didn't work in the 1920's and 1930's, and it's not working now.

Will we ever have the courage to abandon our failed policies and
embark on the proven successful path shown by others?